Node to Python

About

A Blender add-on to create scripts and add-ons! This add-on will take your Geometry Nodes or Materials and convert them into legible Python code.

Node To Python automatically handles node layout, default values, subgroups, naming, colors, and more!

Blender's node-based editors are powerful, yet accessible tools, and I wanted to make scripting them easier for add-on creators. Combining Python with node based setups allows you to do things that would otherwise be tedious or impossible, such as

• for loops
• creating different node trees for different versions or settings
• interfacing with other parts of the software or properties of an object

Supported Versions

NodeToPython v3.0 is supported for Blender 3.0 - 4.0 on Windows, macOS, and Linux. I generally try to update the add-on to handle new nodes around the beta release of each update.

Installation

1. Download the NodeToPython.zip file from the latest release
   • If you download other options, you'll need to rename the zip and the first folder to "NodeToPython" so Blender can properly import the add-on
2. In Blender, navigate to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons
3. Click Install, and find where you downloaded the zip file. Then hit the Install Add-on button, and you're done!

Usage

Once you've installed the add-on, you'll see a new tab in any Node Editor's sidebar. You can open this with keyboard shortcut N when focused in the Node Editor.

In the tab, there's panels to create add-ons for Geometry Nodes and Materials, each with a drop-down menu.

Select the node group you want code for, and you'll be prompted with a Script or Add-on option.

• Script mode creates a function that generates the node tree and copies it to your Blender clipboard.
  • Doesn't include import bpy line
  • To keep NodeToPython cross-platform and independent of third-party libraries, to get it into your system clipboard you need to paste into the Blender text editor and recopy it currently
• Add-on mode generates a zip file for you in the save directory specified in the NodeToPython menu. From here, you can install it like a regular add-on. The generated add-on comes complete with operator registration and creating a modifier/material for the node tree to be used in.
  • The current default operator install location is in the Object menu

Future Plans

• Investigate drivers and keyframes
• A better default operator install location for generated add-ons
• A development repository with useful scripts and tests
• Better handling of more setting types, including
  • Image sequences
  • Movie clips
  • Materials
  • Objects
  • Textures
  • Text objects
  • Scenes
  • Particle systems
  • Fonts
  • Masks
  • Cryptomatte entries
  • Image format settings
  • File slots
  • Layer slots
• Automatic detection of the minimum/maximum version of Blender compatible with a generated add-on
• Autoformatting of generated code

Bug Reports and Suggestions

When submitting an issue, please include

• Your version of Blender
• Your operating system
• A short description of what you were trying to accomplish, or steps to reproduce the issue.
• Sample blend files are more than welcome!

Got suggestions? Create an issue, happy to hear what features people want.